Severe storms are rolling through central Minnesota including the Twin Cities

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Forest Service officials have temporarily banned campfires in the Superior National Forest — including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — and closed some lakes and access points, as crews monitor four wildfires.

Drought conditions have caused increased fire danger across the region — and lightning from thunderstorms earlier this week appears to have sparked at least some of the latest fires. 

Possible early sign of busy wildfire season

Worsening across Minnesota

As of Saturday afternoon the largest of the fires was the Delta Lake fire, located south of Snowbank Lake about 19 miles east of Ely. Officials estimated it at 62 acres in size and believe it was caused by lightning.

It's burning in an area with a lot of downed trees from a 2016 storm, as well as balsam fir trees killed by spruce budworm.

"The Delta (Lake) fire is burning in heavy blowdown, and it's very difficult conditions for our firefighters and resources to work with," said public information officer Christine Kolinski with the Superior National Forest. "They're having to use chainsaws to cut out safety zones (for firefighters) to put a line around the fire and try to contain it."

More than 50 firefighters were working on the fire as of Saturday, assisted by a helicopter dropping water on the flames.

Campfires are banned in the BWCA, and paddlers and hikers will need to carefully use camp stoves. Elsewhere in the Superior National Forest, campfires are allowed only in Forest Service-installed fire structures in developed fee campgrounds.

In addition, the Forest Service has closed a number of lakes, campsites and portages near the fires:

And it's also closed two entry points as of Friday evening: No. 56 Kekekabic Trail East and No. 74 Kekekabic Trail West/Snowbank.

Kolinski said campers planning a trip to the Boundary Waters should check ahead for current fire conditions. 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is 

reporting high or very high wildfire danger

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Forest Service officials have temporarily banned campfires in the Superior National Forest — including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — and closed some lakes and access points, as crews monitor four wildfires.


Fires in Boundary Waters prompt campfire ban, some BWCA closures

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